Obsessive Top Shortstop Watch: Twins with Multiple Correa Offers, Cubs Won’t Set the Market, Phillies Lurking, More

Best Buy should’ve done sales on top shortstops today, dang it. Anyway, some of the latest from the rumor mill about the top free agent shortstops, specifically …

  • Out of Minnesota, the efforts to keep Carlos Correa on the Twins are very real. They may or may not likely their chances, ultimately, but they are trying to get creative:
  • In other words, it’s pretty hard to know what these offers ACTUALLY look like. Recall how the Twins totally gave Correa a nine-figure, three-year deal last offseason … except when the details came out, it was quite clear that it was a one-year deal with a couple highly-unlikely-to-be-exercised player options. Maybe the Twins are making fantastic 6 or 8 or 10-year offers, or maybe they’re once again offering relatively cheap overall deals with enticements like Wolfson mentions.
  • … or maybe that’s just me comforting myself that surely there’s no way the Cubs would be *out-bid* by the Twins on Correa. Right? RIGHT?!
  • Jon Heyman says the Twins are “expected to go hard” to keep Correa, but adds that there are seven other teams involved. Fair to presume the Cubs are one of those seven teams, but also fair to guess that the Cubs aren’t going to be the first to jump to the top of the market. As we recently discussed, even in a world where Correa gets only seven or eight years, there are reasons to be dubious that the Cubs will go that long (regardless of whether they should).
  • Speaking of which, here’s how Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney put it at The Athletic:
  • The Cubs engaged in extensive talks with Carlos Correa’s agent prior to the lockout last winter, but Correa subsequently changed representation. With Boras now running the show, the Cubs will have to be both patient and aggressive to meet those demands for a megadeal.

    What is clear is that Hoyer understands just how valuable it can be to have elite defense up the middle ….

    Adding star power — whether it’s Correa or Trea Turner or to a certain extent Xander Bogaerts or Dansby Swanson — is a must to turn this team into a contender. Adding another shortstop helps the Cubs with their depth. It helps their pitching. It helps them become a more dynamic and resilient team. There are four options and each one comes with individual strengths and weaknesses. The Cubs probably won’t be stepping up to set the market on any of them. But if Hoyer’s baseball operations group can land one of those shortstops while building up the pitching staff, it will go a long way in trying to make the team relevant next year.

  • That, to me, reads like the prevailing sense out there (which, in my opinion, has looked the same since Jed Hoyer’s end-of-season presser): the Cubs REALLY DO want one of these shortstops. It is not just eyewash. But, here in November, they aren’t about to signal to ANYONE that they’re going to go to the top of the market.
  • Does that mean the Cubs wouldn’t tack on an extra year or a few extra million in AAV if push came to shove and that’s what would get the deal done at the zero hour? I’m not saying that. I’m just saying they are going to try to preserve every bit of leverage they have for as long as they have it, on the small chance that they COULD get their preferred target on their preferred terms. Why give that hope up until you absolutely have to? It does the Cubs zero good to let it leak out now that they are willing to go to seven or eight or nine years …
  • Other shortstop bits from Heyman: the Red Sox may not be close on a deal with Xander Bogaerts, the Phillies still make sense for Trea Turner (or perhaps Bogaerts), and the Padres are a surprise entrant on the shortstop market, with a specific mention for Bogaerts.
  • Nick Groke and Matt Gelb write about the Phillies as big fish in the shortstop market, and it certainly sounds like they are very legitimately going to be in pursuit, regardless of how high it pushes them over the luxury tax.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

    The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

    Blake Snell’s Reasonable Price Tag? Why Jordan Montgomery Might Wait a Little Longer?

    A couple updates on the top remaining - yup, still - free agent starting pitchers, lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. Although rumors picked up on Snell and the Astros late last week, no signing news dropped. It was surprising,...

    Garrett Crochet Will Start on Opening Day for the White Sox, Marking an Extreme Rarity

    We don't cover the White Sox around here in a particularly close way - maybe a touch more than other non-NL-Central clubs because of the intracity interest - but this was surprising and interesting enough for me to note. The...

    Chicago Cubs Shortstop Prospect Jefferson Rojas Wants to Be Javy Báez

    I haven’t exactly made it a secret that Jefferson Rojas is one of my favorite prospects in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. After debuting in the DSL at 17, Rojas skipped complex ball and wound up at Low-A Myrtle Beach...

    Taillon Throwing and a Roster Benefit, Amaya Catching, Friedl Wrist, Williams, Alonso, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know, if Seiya really rakes, and Cody hits again, and if Nico and Happ get on base a ton and Busch turns out to be a stud, and if Dansby is above average and Amaya breaks out and Morel...

    Spring Training Miscellany: Celebrate With a Green Beer, Happ Returns, Assad Solid, Cubs Win

    The Cubs won their St. Patrick's Day game over the Rangers 8-6 today, and it's time to tip back a green one in celebration ... About what you'd want to see from Javier Assad today as he continues to stretch...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ is Back!

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse this Chicago Cubs lineup? Don't miss out! For a limited time only, RECEIVE 10% OFF your...

    The Third Cut Includes Mervis, Four Others

    (Hear the song in your mind - it still fits!) The Chicago Cubs made their next set of cuts from big league camp today, sending out five players who were generally not expected to make the Opening Day roster. The...

    Spring Leaders, Key Injuries, Rays Payroll, Luck of the Irish, and Other Cubs Bullets

    A mighty fine St. Patrick's Day to you all. Although I've got a good bit of Irish in my blood, it's never been something I've connected to all that much. You can't really force it, but I kinda want to...

    Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Sweep the Split-Squad Day

    It was a split-squad day for the Cubs today, and they won both by a total of two runs. It was 4-3 over the Angels and 8-7 over the Royals. The only teams with a better spring record than the...

    Latest News

    OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

    Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

    De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

    Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

    Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

    Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

    At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

    Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Dejounte Murray must make four from downtown on Monday, when his Atlanta Hawks face the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

    D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, D'Angelo Russell must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 10:30 PM ET.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksD'Angelo Russell's over/under for...

    LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, LeBron James needs to make three from downtown on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET.LeBron James' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksLeBron James' over/under for...

    Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

    The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

    Damian Lillard Pulled Up to Watch the Bulls Play the Trail Blazers

    Damian Lillard wants to be traded to the Chicago Bulls confirmed. The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star starter was a surprise guest at the Chicago Bulls' Monday night game. Lillard made the drive down from Milwaukee for an opportunity to sit courtside...

    more cubs news